plate no. 9111

New Brighton

George Pemba, 1960

oilSocial Realismcityscapebuildingsstreetfiguresskycityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and practice capturing the essence of a scene with simplified forms and visible brushstrokes. It also provides an opportunity to practice painting figures in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the buildings' placement and proportions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, buildings, and ground, using thin washes.
step 03
Develop the color variations within each area, gradually building up layers of paint.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, signs, and architectural features.
step 05
Paint the figures, simplifying their forms and focusing on their gestures and placement.
step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final details, such as small objects and textures, to enhance the scene.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · raw sienna · payne's gray

Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create earth tones by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and white. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·Blocking in
·Layering
·Dry brushing
·Color mixing
·Impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the brushwork.
→Failing to simplify the forms and creating a cluttered composition.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated, which can detract from the muted atmosphere.
→Ignoring the importance of shadows and highlights in creating depth and dimension.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium yellow, raw sienna, payne's gray)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil or painting medium
·Odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
·Palette knife
·Rags or paper towels